Verbena plant named ‘WNVECPPK’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘WNVECPPK’, characterized by its initially upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; rounded inflorescences with purplish pink-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the foliar plane; and good garden performance and high temperature tolerance.

Botanical designation: Verbena rigida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WNVECPPK’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Verbena Plant Named ‘WNVECPPUR’

Inventor/Applicant: Rika Matsumoto

Plant patent application Ser. No. 17/371,744

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant, botanically known as Verbena rigida, commonly referred to as Tuberous Verbena and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘WNVECPPK’.

The new Verbena plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Verbena rigida plants with improved plant habit and new and unique flower colors.

The new Verbena plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 23, 2016 in Higashiomi Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of Verbena rigida identified as code number 09V985-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Verbena rigida ‘Polaris’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Verbena plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 26, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Verbena plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 29, 2017, has shown that the unique features of this new Verbena plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Verbena have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘WNVECPPK’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘WNVECPPK’ as a new and distinct Verbena plant:

-   -   1. Initially upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Rounded inflorescences with purplish pink-colored flowers         that are held above and beyond the foliar plane.     -   7. Good garden performance and high temperature tolerance.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more compact than and not as         vigorous as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena are more outwardly spreading than         and not as upright as plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Verbena have purplish pink-colored flowers         whereas plants of the female parent selection have         purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Polaris’. Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of ‘Polaris’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Polaris’.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have purplish pink-colored flowers         whereas plants of ‘Polaris’ have pale lilac-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbena rigida ‘WNVECPPUR’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of ‘WNVECPPUR’ in flower color as plants of the new Verbena have purplish pink-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘WNVECPPUR’ have violet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbena rigida ‘Santos Purple’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of ‘Santos Purple’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more compact than plants of         ‘Santos Purple’.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena are more spreading than and not as         upright as plants of ‘Santos Purple’.     -   3. Plants of the new Verbena have more flexible stems than         plants of ‘Santos Purple’.     -   4. Plants of the new Verbena have purplish pink-colored flowers         whereas plants of ‘Santos Purple’ have deep purple-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can also be compared to plants of the Verbena bonariensis X Verbena hybrida ‘INVEBPUTOW’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,722. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of ‘INVEBPUTOW’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more spreading than and not as         upright as plants of ‘INVEBPUTOW’.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have more flexible stems than         plants of ‘INVEBPUTOW’.     -   3. Plants of the new Verbena have purplish pink-colored flowers         whereas plants of ‘INVEBPUTOW’ have purple violet-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Verbena plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Verbena plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘WNVECPPK’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘WNVECPPK’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late summer and early autumn in 10.8-cm containers in a corrugated polycarbonate-covered greenhouse in Carlton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Verbena production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 20° C. and light levels averaged 9,290 foot-candles. Plants were pinched three weeks after planting and were twelve weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena rigida ‘WNVECPPK’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Verbena rigida identified as code number 09V985-01, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Verbena rigida ‘Polaris’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three days at             temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four days at             temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 15 days at             temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Initially upright to outwardly             spreading plant habit; freely branching habit with lateral             branches potentially developing at every node, pinching             enhances branching potential; vigorous growth habit and             rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 9 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 35 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 27 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.5 mm to 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3.5 cm to 4.75 cm.         -   Orientation.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading;             horizontal to downward.         -   Strength.—Strong; flexible.         -   Texture and luster.—Densely pubescent; pubescence is short,             fine and rough; slightly glossy; becoming woody with             subsequent development.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 146A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 147A variably tinged with close             to 187A; if woody, close to 199A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 4.75 cm to 5.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.5 cm to 1.75 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblong.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Irregularly serrate.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderately             pubescent, rough; coriaceous; slightly rugose; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Darker green than 146A.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A;             venation, proximally, close to 144A and distally, close to             139A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Darker green             than 146A; venation, close to 146A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Sessile salverform flowers             arranged in rounded to almost spherical terminal cymes with             two to three inflorescences per terminal; flowers face             upward or outwardly depending on the position in the             inflorescence; freely flowering habit with about 15 to 20             open flowers at one time per inflorescence and about 70 to             75 flowers developing per inflorescence; numerous             inflorescences develop per plant during the flowering             season.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             spring until the autumn; early flowering habit, plants begin             flowering about five to six weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about five to seven days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.75 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7.5 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Shape: Oblong. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;             slightly glossy. Color: Close to 146A slightly and variably             tinged with close to 187A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.1 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 1 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 9 mm.         -   Tube diameter, proximally.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals             fused towards the base into a slender narrow tube. Petal             lobe length: About 4.5 mm. Petal lobe width: About 3.5 mm.             Petal lobe shape: Oblong. Petal lobe apex: Obtuse to retuse.             Petal margin: Entire; not undulate. Petal texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Throat texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; matte. Tube             texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color: Petal             lobes, when opening, upper surface: Close to 62B. Petal             lobes, when opening, lower surface: Close to 62C. Petal             lobes, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 62A; towards             the margins, close to 62B; towards the throat, close to 62A;             venation, similar to lamina colors; colors becoming closer             to 62C with subsequent development. Petal lobes, fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 62C; venation, close to 62C;             color becoming closer to 62D with subsequent development.             Throat: Distally, close to 62C and proximally, close to 64A;             venation, similar to lamina colors. Tube: Close to 64A;             venation, close to 64A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused sepals fused             towards the base into a slender tube. Length: About 5 mm.             Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Sepal length: About 5 mm. Sepal             width: About 1 mm. Sepal shape: Acicular. Sepal apex:             Acuminate. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster,             upper surface: Pubescent; moderately glossy. Sepal texture             and luster, lower surface: Pubescent; slightly glossy. Sepal             color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 146A. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 146A tinged with close to             187A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong; flexible, wiry. Aspect: Upright to 45°             from stem axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;             rough; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Five             per flower, filaments partially adnate to corolla tube.             Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 144A.             Anther size: About 0.5 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Oblong.             Anther color: Close to 144A. Pollen amount: None observed.             Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About             2 mm. Style length: About 1.75 mm. Style color: Close to             144A. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma diameter: Less than             1 mm. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to             144A. Fruits and seeds: To date, fruit and seed development             have not been observed on plants of the new Verbena. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 2° C. to about 40° C. and are     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8a to 11b. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Verbena have     not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Verbena plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Verbena plant named ‘WNVECPPK’ as illustrated and described. 